Cycle-saddle.



N o. 674,|99. Patented May l4, I901.-

A. CUTHBERT';

' CYCLE SADDLE.

(No Modem ppi cation filed Apr. 26, 1900.

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. CYCLE SADDLE.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1900.)

I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 674,199. Patented my l4,- l90l,

-A. CUTHBERT.

GYCLE'SADDLE. (Application filed Apr. 26, 1900. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR CUTHBERT, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 674,199, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed April 26, 1900. Serial No. 14,470. LNo model.)

London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cycle-Saddles, (for which application has been made for Letters Patentin Great Britain under N0. 20,7 29, dated October 16, 1899,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a saddle or an attachment which may be applied to any ordinary suspension-saddle, the construction of either being such that the fore and central parts of the saddle are prevented from unduly rising when the rear is depressed by the Weight of the rider. To efiect this, a part of the saddle-cover in advance of the seat portion is connected to the rear of the saddle by a tie, preferably comprising several parts, as hereinafter described. By the arrangement of the saddle in this manner the rider sits upon the lower bones of the pelvis instead of his weight being thrown upon the perineum, as is the case in existing forms of saddles.

The attachment or saddle constructed according to this invention also affords means by which the tension, and consequently the configuration of the saddle, may be readily adjusted to suit the requirements of any rider.

The attachment may also increase the width of the saddle to which it may be applied Without involving the usuaL disadvantages of a broad saddle.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one method of carrying out this invention, Figure l is an under side view of a saddle constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the saddle on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are details of construction. Fig. 6 is a plan of the saddle with part of the seating removed. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. Sis a transverse section of the saddle on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a plan of a modified detail, and Fig. 10 is a plan View of another modified detail.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

'In an approximately central position be neath the seat portion of the saddle is a strut A, which lies at right angles to the central axis of the saddle and is approximately parallel to the leather cover B. The strut A is carried on one side by two forward ties A, secured one at either end of the strut, their free ends being held by a strap 0 made fast to the cover B at a point somewhat in advance of the seat portion. The strap O-is riveted to the saddle-cover at 0 its free end being turned back upon itself and secured by a buckle 0 through which the fixed end of the strap may be passed before riveting. The ties A for convenience may be made in one piece, the central connecting portion A being engaged by the strap and arranged to lie ap-' proximately parallel to the strut A To prevent wear of the strap at that part against which the part A of the ties bears, a roller A may be mounted upon the oonnecting-piece A so that the strap passes around the roller and does not bear directly upon the ties. The strut A is carried on that side opposite to the ties A by rear ties A These ties are similarly secured one at each end of the strut A and their free ends connected to a nut Aflcommon to both and carried by aboltA passed through the cantle-plate D of the saddle. To avoid expense inconstruction, the the rear ties A are also formed in one piece, the central connecting portion being looped,

so that it may pass beneath and partly sur-.

round the bolt A The nut A is provided with an extension A Fig. 5, which extends beneath the looped portion of the ties A Each side of the extension A is recessed at A so that the loop of the ties A is engaged between the extension and bolt, its ends lying in the recesses A. By this means the loop is prevented from displacement from the nut by any sudden backward movement of the ties A when in use.

The cantleplate D is made somewhat shorter than usual, as will be seen by referring to the drawings, so that the side pieces B of the seat are deprived of the usual support given by'the same, and in place of this are supported by adjustable links E, pivoted at Eon either side of the strut A and to plates E, riveted or otherwise secured to the parts B of the cover. The joints at the end of each link E are preferably so arranged that that at E permits the link E to swing in an approximately vertical plane, while that between the link E and the plate E ,Fig. 8,allows the link to swing in an approximately horizontal plane.

To secure the forward ties A, rear ties A and links E to the strut A it is preferred to employ connecting-pieces E, Fig. 4. Each connecting-piece E comprises a plate provided with orifices E ,thro ugh which the ends of the different members may be passed and secured by riveting or other convenient means, and on the lower side is a projection or car E", which extends beneath the strut A when the connecting-piece is in position and prevents it from rising when pulled upon by the ties A A To render the links E adjustable, they are preferably made in two parts E E one part having a right-hand screw-thread, while the other has a left-hand screw-thread, in order that they may be connected by a screwthreaded sleeve Thus by revolving the sleeve E the length of each link may be adjusted, and a lock-nut E is provided at one end of the sleeve to secure it in position when the required length of the link has been found. The lock-nut E is preferably carried by the parts E of the link, so that when finally secured against the sleeve E the part E may be free to swivel in the sleeve.

It will be seen that the sides of the saddle are supported by the links E between them and the strut A and that by regulating the length of the links the tension of the saddle in a transverse direction can be regulated. To regulate the tension of the same in a longitudinal direction, the length of the ties A may be adjusted by means of the strap 0, and the whole strut A with its lug A", may be drawn nearer to or placed farther from the cantle-plate D by revolving the bolt A in one direction or the other. To keep the bolt A in position when adjusted, it is preferably provided with a hexagonal head, which normally rests in a correspondiugly-shaped orifice in the cantle-plate. So long as the saddle is in use the bolt is kept firmly down in its place by the Weight of the rider; but when there is no weight upon the saddle the bolt is easily pressed backward, so as to disengage its head from the cantle-plate in order that it may be revolved in one direction or the other for adjustment.

It will be seen that the system of parts comprising the strut A and ties A A together form a single tie which connects that part of the saddle which lies between the seat portion and the forward support of the saddlecover with the rear of the saddle. These parts could be made in one piece pivoted to the forward and rear parts of the saddle, as described, and in the drawings the letter A, Figs. 1 and 2, indie-ates the entire system forming the connectingtie whether constructed as shown in these figures or in the figures referred to below or whether formed as a single solid member.

The framing F, which serves to support the rear and forward ends of the saddle-cover in a well-known manner, may be of any wellknown construction and forms no part of this invention, as the strut, ties, and links described above may be applied to any known form of saddle.

The operation of this device is as follows: As the weight of the rider falls upon the seat portion, the latter, together with its sides 13, supported by the links E, is depressed, thus causing the strut A beneath it to be lowered and moved slightly to the rear as it swings upon the bolt A This movement of the strut A will pull upon the forward links A and so correspondingly depress that part of the saddle-cover to which they are secured by the plate 0. The whole of the seat portion by this means is kept approximately flat or only takes a convenient curve instead of the abrupt rise which occurs upon an ordinary saddle from that point on the seat portion on which the bones of the pelvis rest up to the peak of the saddle. It is obvious from the above that in a saddle arranged according to this invention this rise will only take place from that point at which the forward links A are secured up to the saddlepeak and will thus permit the rider to rest naturally upon the seat instead of his weight being thrown upon the perineum, as is the casein a saddle of the ordinary construction. Further, the sides B of the saddle being pivoted to the links E and the links pivoted to the strut A at E in the manner described will oscillate about a transverse axis of the saddle, so that the fore edge of each is depressed when the rider treads down on that side, rising again during the upward movement. Also the strut A being suspended at the rear by the ties A and forward by the ties A the sides B are free to oscillate about a longitudinal axis of the saddle, so that the whole part B on one side, as well as its front edge, will be depressed as the rider treads down on that side, the part B on the opposite side being simultaneously raised through the medium of the connecting-strut and links. By giving this free movement to the sides 13 the saddle may be made broader than usual without chafing or hampering the motions of the rider, While at the same time giving additional seating-room.

It will be understood that the strut A and ties A are not rigidly secured to the connecting-pieces E but are passed loosely through them and held in place by a head after the manner of Wheel-spokes. The bolt A is free to oscillate in a similar manner in the cantleplate D.

The tension'of any part of the seat portion may be regulated to suit the particular requirements of the individual rider, as by lengthening or shortening the links E the transverse tension of that part of the seat is adjusted, the longitudinal tension being regulated by screwing the bolt A farther into or withdrawing it from the nut A, which carries the ties A If necessary, the ties A may also be adjusted by means of their nuts A, as described below, though under ordinary circumstances sufficient adjustment may be obtained by means of the bolt A Figs. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate a slightly-modified construction of the saddle, the forward strap, by which the ties A are secured to the saddle-cover, being dispensed wit-h and replaced by a plateO. The ties A in this case are not constructed in one piece, but their ends are passed through ears 0 on the plate 0 and secured by a nut A The forward adjustment of the ties may thus be effected by revolving the nuts A in one direction or the other, so that the strut is either brought toward the plate 0 or removed farther from the same. The rear ties A may, if preferred, be dispensed with, the strut A being provided witha lug or projection A adapted to receive the bolt A The ties A may, however, be retained in conjunction with the plate 0 and may be carried by a nut A having an extension A", as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, or may be passed through or secured to a nut, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The arrangement of the different ties, links, and strut may, however, be variously modified without departing from the nature of this invention. For instance, the forward ties may be provided with additional facilities for adjustment by securing them to a device, such as that shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, attached to the plate 0. The plate- C is -in this case formed with two brackets or lugs 0 which serve as bearings for a screw 0 and on the screw is mounted a nut C The nut O is prevented from revolving with the screw by any convenient means and has a projection or lug 0 through which the ends of the ties A? may be passed and secured each by a head on the opposite side to that at which they enter, or the ties A may be formed in one piece bent at an anbrackets E on one of the parts.

gle at that part which lies within the lug G The ties themselves may serve to prevent the nut (J from revolving with the screw 0 or the plate 0 may be made solid or provided with a central portion 0 and the nut flattened on that side which faces the part 0 so that it bears against the same. Again, the ties may be modified by constructing them, as shown in Fig. 10, in the form of a flat strip, so that the complete tie A, connecting that part of the saddle just in advance of the. seat portion and the cantle-plate D, is formed in two parts hinged togetherat that point where the links E are attached, the ties A forming one part and the ties A -or tie A forming the other. The fore part of the tie constructed in this manner may be hinged at Q to a nut carried in a similar manner to the nut C by the plate 0, and the links E may be pivoted to the When the frame member is formed in two parts in this manner, they may, if preferred, be made sufficiently stout to permit of the strut A being dispensed with.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to a complete saddle only in that the parts forming the subject-matter of the invention may be applied to any existing saddle, and any such saddle may be widened, if

necessary.

If it is not desired that a cover should envelop the whole saddle, it may cover the seat proper only, the fore part being conveniently held down by riveting to the plate 0. Should the cantle plate of an ordinary saddle be found to interfere with the action of the saddles B, it may obviously be shortened by cutting off the extending portions.

The strut A with its part A", may be made to take any convenient form, so asto avoid fouling the parts of any ordinary cycle-frame, being in this case arched, as shown clearlyin Fig. 8, to avoid contact with the central springs of the particular frame shown in the drawings. The ties and links connected with the strut may also of course be so disposed as to avoid collision with the parts of the frame.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cycle-saddle, the combination of a flexible saddle-cover, forward and rear supports for said cover, a longitudinally-arranged tie, means for pivoting one end of the tie to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the forward support, means for pivoting the other end of the tie to the rear of the saddle, and inflexible links connecting the tie and thesides of the saddle forward of the cantle'plate; substantially as described.

2. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover having side extensions, forward and rear supports for the saddlecove'r, a longitudinally-arranged tie, means for pivoting one end of the tie to the saddle cover at a point between the seat portion and the forward support, and links pivoted to and connecting the side extensions and the tie as set forth.

3. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover, forward and rear supports for the saddle-cover,a forward tie-piece, a rear tie-piece, a pivotal connection between the two tie-pieces, means for securing the free end of the forward tie-piece to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover and means for securing the free end of the rear tie-piece to the rear of the saddle and pivotal connections between the tie and saddle forward of the cantle-plate, substantially as set forth.

at. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover, forward and rear supports for the saddle-cover, a longitudinallyarranged tie, means whereby the forward end of the tie is secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover, links pivoted to and connecting the tie and cover forward of the cantle-plate, means whereby the rear end of the tie is secured to the rear of the saddle and means whereby the distance between one end of the tie and that point at which it is secured to the saddle-cover may be adjusted substantially as set forth.

5. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover, forward and rear supports for the saddle-cover, a transverse strut, forward and rear ties, the pivotal connection between one end of each of the ties and the strut, means whereby the free ends of the forward ties are secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover and means whereby the free ends of the rear ties are secured to the rear of the saddle, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover, forward and rear supports for the saddle-cover, a transverse strut, forward and rear ties the pivotal connection between one end of each of the ties and the strut, means whereby the free ends of the forward ties are secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover, a screw carried loosely by its head in the rearsupport of the saddlecover, a nut on the screw, and means whereby the free ends of the rear ties are secured to the nut substantially as set forth.

7. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddlecover having the side extensions, forward and rear supports for the saddle cover, a longitudinally arranged tie, means whereby the forward end of the tie is secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover, means whereby the rear end of the tie is secured to the rear of the saddle, links pivoted one on each side of the tiepiece and free to move in an approximately vertical plane, means whereby the free end of the links may each be secured to one of the side extensions of the saddle whereby each side extension is free to oscillate upon the end of its link about a transverse axis of the saddle-cover, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover having the side extensions, forward and rear supports for the saddle -cover, a longitudinallyarranged tie, means whereby the forward end of the tie is secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion of the front support of the cover, means whereby the rear end of the tie is secured to the rear of the saddle, links pivoted one on each side of the tie-piece and free to move in an approximately vertical plane, means whereby the free ends of the links may each be secured to one of the side extensions of the saddle, whereby each side extension is free to oscillate upon the end of its link about a transverse axis of the saddle cover, and means whereby the length of each link maybe adj usted substantially as set forth. 9. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover having the side extensions, forward and rear supports for the saddle cover, a longitudinally arranged tie, means whereby the forward end of the tie is secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover, means whereby the rear end of the tie is secured to the rear of the saddle, a plate secured to each side piece, a screwthreaded pin pivoted to each plate and free to swing in an approximately horizontal plane, screw-threaded pins pivoted one on each side of the tie-piece and free to move in an approximately vertical plane, a right and left hand screw-threaded sleeve adapted to engage the screw-threaded pins on one side of the saddle, a similar sleeve adapted to engage those on the other side, and means for securing the sleeves substantially as set forth.

10. In a cycle-saddle the combination of a flexible saddle-cover having the side extensions, forward and rear supports for the saddle-cover, a transverse strut,forward and rear ties, a pivotal connection between one end of each of the ties and the strut, an adjustable connection whereby the free ends of the forward ties are secured to the saddle-cover at a point between the seat portion and the front support of the cover, a screw carried loosely by its head in the rear support of the saddle-cover, a nut on the screw, an extension on the nut, a recess in the extension, a loop connecting the free ends of the rear ties and adapted to pass over the extension and rest in the recess of the nut, a plate secured to each side extension, a screw-threaded pin pivoted to each plate and free to swing in an approximately horizontal plane, a screwthreaded pin pivoted at each end to the transverse strut and adapted to swing in an approximately vertical plane, a right and left hand screw-threaded sleeve adapted to engage the screw-threaded pins on one side of the saddle, a similar sleeve adapted to engage those on the other side, and means for securing the sleeves substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR CUTHBERT.

\Vitnesses:

A. J. FRENCH, A. M. HAYWARD. 

